Use of Co2+:MgAl2O4 transparent ceramics in passive Q-switching of an Er:Glass laser at 1.534 mu m

We present the implementation of Co2+:MgAl2O4 transparent ceramics as passive Q-switching elements in an Er:Glass laser at 1.534 mu m. Linearly polarized pulsed output was obtained by Brewster angle inclination of the material Q-switching plate relative to the laser axis. Separate pulses were similar to 105 ns long (FWHM), exhibiting similar to 6.2 kW peak power at near TEM00 quality. Several fundamental sample properties important for laser intracavity operation were measured; thermo-optic coefficient dn/dT =(- 3.8 +/- 1) x 10(-5) degrees C-1, thermal lensing factor L(-1)d(nL)/dT = 2.59 x 10(-5) degrees C-1, linear expansion coefficient alpha = (3.9 +/- 0.6) x 10(-5) degrees C-1, polarizability thermal coefficient phi = (7.2 +/- 2.2) x 10(-5) degrees C-1, and damage threshold similar to 6.5 Jkm(2). (C) 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement